Want a peek into our grocery cart? Here’s how I’m grocery shopping and feeding eight people on the cheap. This post may contain affiliate links. When you make a purchase through those links, I am paid a small amount in advertising fees. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it. July has been a month […]

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Do you ever find yourself staring into an open fridge wondering what to make for dinner? Have you ever dumped more than a few “science projects” that you didn’t intend to perform in letting food go to waste? Do you feel like you’re spending way too much money on food costs? Time to change that, my […]

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Enjoy a chili supper that’s full of flavor and a good dose of protein. This Quinoa Chili comes together quickly and easily for a super supper. This recipe was born out of a Pantry Challenge. You see during a Pantry Challenge, I’m hyper-alert about leftovers and making them into something new instead of throwing them […]

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Make lunch time super simple and totally delicious with this Protein Box, aka DIY Bistro Box. Packed with good stuff, it won’t break the bank. In my early days of blogging when my kids were little and I needed to leave the house to be able to string three words together in peace, I would often […]

This month we’re avoiding the grocery store and shopping the kitchen. Here’s how we’re eating. It’s like reality TV, for food. Well, we did it! Almost. For once, I don’t have my freezer thawed yet. Usually I swing that by the third week in the challenge, but not this year. There’s actually a fair amount […]

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

Make lunch time super simple and totally delicious with this Protein Box, aka DIY Bistro Box. Packed with good stuff, it won’t break the bank. In my early days of blogging when my kids were little and I needed to leave the house to be able to string three words together in peace, I would often […]

Pan Bagnat – Delicious & Budget-friendly

Food shouldn't be complicated. Or bad for you. Or expensive. I'm working to craft good cheap eats that we can both enjoy. You can read more about this site here. Check out my cookbooks if you're needing some budget-friendly inspiration. Read about how to make healthy eating work for you here.

Enjoy the flavors of the Mediterranean and low cost ingredients in the classic Pan Bagnat. Simple to make, it’s a perfect tuna sandwich.

After all that talk last week about tuna fish sandwiches, I started to get a craving for the version that is popular in the South of France. You may remember that I studied at the Universite in Bordeaux during college. I also had a sweet family in Toulouse “adopt me” for weekends and holidays. The Durieux were particularly adept at introducing me to traditional flavors and explaining their history.

They made sure that I tried any number of culinary delights and specialties from France, focusing on the areas where Jean-Marc and Michele had grown up, Savoie and Catalogne du Nord, respectively. They took me on trips to both regions, though because of proximity we traveled to Collioure most often, where they have a small vacation home.

When we vacationed on the Mediterranean, this sandwich was among them. I wish I had good food pictures from back then. Sigh…. So, while I was walking down Memory Lane the other day, reading all your comments, I felt this extreme urge for this sandwich.

A pan bagnat is “bathed bread”. You want it dripping with good French vinaigrette dressing. Drizzle it liberally over your sandwich. Michele says that for best flavor you should use tuna packed in oil. It’s messy, but it’s supposed to be.

How I make this cheap:

Here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe more economical:

Buy in bulk. I know that Costco is the best place to buy ingredients in bulk, like canned tuna. In fact, their Kirkland albacore is my preferred brand since it is soy-free. Costco is also my go-to destination for organic eggs.

Shop the sales. Each week I scan the sales to see what produce is on sale. Unless I have a particular recipe in mind, I buy what’s on sale and work those into the menu.

Tools I use to make this recipe easy:

You don’t need much in the way of kitchen tools to make this recipe, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs. Here are the tools that I like to use in this recipe.

Split the baguettes horizontally through the center but not all the way through the crust on the other side. Leave a hinge if you can. Cut each baguette in half crosswise, resulting in four pieces total.

Divide the tuna, eggs, lettuce, tomato, pepper, and olives among the four sandwiches.

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